Ashley
I could feel my heartbeat increase as I drove into the Royal Cuisine car park. I had not expected that he would reply to my message so quickly, making everything easier because I wouldn't have to worry about explaining what I wanted from him.
My eyes roamed as I exited my car, and I heard cameras clicking, but I couldn't see anyone anywhere.
My instinct told me that the paparazzi were around somewhere, and I figured they might have gotten a hint from when we both followed each other yesterday on Instagram. Since they were stalking me, they must have followed me to the restaurant.
Again, it was making my plan easier.
As I opened the grand doors of the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the luxury surrounding me. The restaurant was breathtaking and lived up to its name as the biggest restaurant in the city.
It was a masterpiece of luxury, with sleek marble floors, rich wood paneling, and lavish furnishings. The atmosphere was sophisticated yet inviting.
A maître d approached me, bowing his head. "Welcome, ma'am. Please," he said, leading me to a secluded area reserved for the VIPs after I told him my name.
This area was beautiful, with plush leather chairs and tables arranged to provide an intimate, exclusive experience. He took me to the best spot, marked Reserved, which I figured belonged to Christian and the rest of his family.
The seating arrangement was fit for royalty, with soft, velvety cushions and a majestic view of both the interior and exterior of the restaurant.
There was no sign of Christian, even though I had arrived ten minutes earlier, but I was eager to meet him, and I could feel it in my bones as my hands and legs started shaking.
I was more nervous about meeting him than I had been when writing my final exams.
"Your server will attend to your every need," the maître d said with a discreet bow. "Enjoy your dining experience, ma'am," he added before walking away.
I rubbed my hands gently and sank deeper into the plush cushion, thinking about what Christian would think of me when we finally met.
Would he turn my request down? After all, he was the grandson of one of the wealthiest families in Gold City, he signed billions of dollars daily and was the most sought-after male in the city, and even though I was an heiress, we were not on the same level as them. We were average compared to them.
After visiting my grandfather last night and not seeing him around, I spent the night contemplating another option in case Christian turned down my offer.
I was not going to lose, so the only thing I could think of was to come up with another plan.
While lost in my thoughts, I suddenly smiled at an intoxicating scent. I had always been good at noticing smells, especially ones like this.
Behind me was a strong masculine cologne that sent shivers down my spine. Something told me to turn, and I did, already anticipating who it could be.
When I slowly turned around, my heart started racing as I saw his handsome face, his piercing eyes, and his captivating smile, which made me stare at him longer than I should have and left me breathless.
My heart pounded furiously, threatening to break free from my chest.
He approached me and sat opposite me. "Was I keeping you waiting?" he asked in his deep, low, yet smooth voice.
I couldn't speak for a moment because I couldn't stop the pounding of my heart or the way he stared at me, and then he spoke again.
"Hello, Ashley," he said, waving lightly.
I blinked, quickly looking away and lowering my head.
Realizing that I had almost made a fool of myself in front of him, I pretended to pick up my bag from the table and placed it beside me on the chair. "I… no… you didn't keep me waiting. I arrived earlier than the time, and…" I shifted in my seat. "This feels awkward," I admitted, unable to keep staring down.
He was right there in front of me, yet I still found it difficult to breathe.
Even Owen didn't make me feel this way, and it annoyed me that I couldn't control myself in front of a man I barely knew.
"Ashley," he called my name, and the way he said it only made everything worse because I felt completely helpless in my seat. "Why don't we start by ordering?" he asked.
"Of course," I responded.
For a moment, no one said anything, and we just sat there in uncomfortable silence.
Then Christian raised his head again, his piercing gaze settling on me. When our eyes met, I immediately fidgeted in my seat.
I quickly signaled to the server to break the tension, and he promptly arrived to take our order. But I couldn't decide what to choose, so I turned to Christian instead.
"We will have the pan-seared scallops, the grilled wagyu ribeye—medium rare—and truffle mashed potatoes. Is that okay with you?"
I smiled, feeling slightly more at ease. "I will have the same, thank you."
The server nodded, scribbling down our order. "Excellent choice, sir. Our special wine pairing for today is the 2015 Château Lafite Rothschild. Would you like to try it?"
Christian nodded. "Yes, we will take a bottle."
As the server walked away, the tension between us returned, though it was lighter than before.
"So," he began, "how are you doing? Really?"
I cleared my throat and raised my head, but instead of looking directly at him, my gaze drifted elsewhere.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" he asked.
I shook my head quickly. "No, you don't. It's just that… I am…" I paused and took a deep breath. "I have to say, I never expected you would reply to my text, and—"
"I would never leave a beautiful lady like you on read," he said.
His words made my stomach tighten. It sounded like something he would say to anyone.
As if he noticed my reaction, he chuckled softly. "Don't get the wrong idea," he added, placing his hands on the table. "I replied because it was you. I don't do that with other women."
"Oh," I responded quietly.
Christian's gaze suddenly shifted behind me, his eyes narrowing.
I turned and followed his line of sight, and my eyes landed on a swarm of paparazzi gathered outside the restaurant, their cameras and lenses aimed directly at us.
"It looks like we have an audience," he said casually, feigning ignorance.
I lowered my head and let out a deep sigh. Just as I was about to respond, my phone buzzed on the table. Owen's name flashed across the screen, accompanied by a love emoji.
I glanced at Christian and noticed he was already watching me.
"Owen?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Why aren't you picking up?" he asked.
"No, I shouldn't," I said, letting out another breath.
He chuckled. "I think you should."
There was something slightly mischievous in his tone, as though he was curious to hear what Owen would say.
I hesitated, unsure of what to do, but then he pointed to himself. "Focus on me while you pick up the call and tell him that you are on a date with me."
I tried to respond, but the phone kept ringing, and he gestured toward it again.
Reluctantly, I picked it up and placed it on the speaker. "Hey baby, what's going on? I saw a picture of you and my boss online! Is it true?" Owen's voice came through, sounding as annoying as ever.
I frowned and glanced at Christian, as if searching for guidance, but he simply nodded.
"The pictures are real," I said, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. "What you saw is correct."
"Yes, Ashley is on a date with me right now," Christian added smoothly.
I nearly gasped, not expecting him to catch on so quickly. The line suddenly went silent.
"Seems he has hung up," Christian said.
I lifted my head to look at him. "What was that about?"
He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "The same thing you wanted," he replied.
His words sent a flutter through my chest, and I realized he might have already seen through my plan.
Before I could respond, the server returned with our meals, expertly presenting each dish. "Your pan-seared scallops and grilled wagyu ribeye, sir and madam."
The aroma of the food was enough to distract me from his comment for a moment, and then he gestured toward the table.
"Shall we?"
I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady my racing thoughts.
"When we finish eating, we will truly talk about why you messaged me—and why the paparazzi are here," he added.
Just like that, my heart started racing again, and I wondered if I would even be able to focus on the food in front of me.